Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is neurological re-education exercises that assist in improving the function of the muscles in the tongue, lips, jaw, and palate to improve speech, chewing, swallowing, and breathing patterns.
Click here for a printable handout to learn more about Myofunctional Therapy! 

Signs of Orofacial Difficulties

  • ​Mouth Breathing
  • Snoring
  • Limited tongue movement
  • Difficulty making sounds like "s" & "z"
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing foods
  •  Drooling beyond age two
  • Tongue pushing past front teeth while at rest (tongue thrust)
  • Misaligned bite, overbite, underbite, etc.
  • Lip/tongue ties
  • Jaw pain
  • Prolonged use of bottle, pacifier, thumb sucking, etc ​

Benefits of Myofunctional Therapy

Speech-Language Pathologists trained in Myofunctional Therapy can help your child: 
  • Understand where their tongue & mouth muscles are at rest and while speaking & eating
  • Improve oral rest position (tongue resting on palate vs. bottom of mouth)
  • Improve breathing patterns & decrease snoring
  • Produce sounds more clearly
  • Implement strategies to improve chewing and swallowing patterns
  • Decrease oral habits like thumb sucking, pacifier use, etc.

Learn about the Evaluation Process

1. Schedule an evaluation by contacting the front office or completing an online form 
2. Family completes the intake form
3. At the evaluation, the SLP will examine the child's facial structures, tongue function, chewing, and swallowing
4. The SLP will screen for other difficulties (e.g. articulation, language skills) and assess if necessary
5. The clinician will discuss the findings with the family & discuss potential referrals (e.g. ENT, dentist, orthodontist)
6. The SLP will develop a treatment plan & begin weekly treatment sessions (if applicable)